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The largest trade deal in history was signed on Sunday, with 15 countries including Australia agreeing to the pact, which covers 2.2 billion people and 30 per cent of the global economy. The agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, which has taken eight years to negotiate, surpasses the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in scale, […]
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its long-awaited report on the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) sector on Monday, revealing that some consumers have cut down on meals due to debts, and showing that one in five consumers are missing payments. However, the financial watchdog stopped short of recommending the sector be regulated […]
Businesses are invited to join the first ever online “Jumping for Literacy Guinness World record attempt” on Thursday 19 November to support early childhood literacy. The event is run by United Way Australia (UWA), a charity aiming to improve early childhood outcomes and school-to-work transitions. “We know that 90 per cent of brain development occurs […]
The JobMaker Hiring Credit Bill passed Parliament on Wednesday, confirming $4 billion to support around 450,000 jobs for people aged between 15 to 35. The hiring credit is designed to encourage businesses to hire additional young employees and increase employment. Youth unemployment was heavily impacted due to the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We […]
With the announcement of Joe Biden’s win over the US election earlier this week comes news from experts that Australian SMBs are likely to see more stability moving forward from a volatile period. However, while hopeful, many are also saying that it is impossible to predict how the market will shift moving forward, and therefore […]
A national business poll has been released showing one in three SMEs are considering closing or selling their business within the next six months, due to the impact of the COVID-19 recession, unless there is a significant improvement in conditions. The poll conducted by ScotPac, Australia and New Zealand’s largest non-bank SME lender, has also […]
Narelle Anderson is the Founder and Managing Director of Envirobank Recycling, an Indigenous-owned company that aims to incentivise bottle and can recycling. She has over 20 years of experience in recycling, having previously grown CBD Enviro Services twenty-fold before selling it to a public company. She is also a board member of the Australian Council […]
The local network of the UN Global Compact, the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA), today launched The Australian Business Guide to Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, written in collaboration with KPMG Australia and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Designed to complement the global business reference guide for the United […]
As Australia celebrates NAIDOC Week 2020, it is vital to put the spotlight on Australia’s thriving Indigenous businesses. We celebrate up-and-coming and experienced Indigenous entrepreneurs and look at how companies can support and procure from Indigenous businesses. There are currently up to 16,000 Indigenous-owned businesses in Australia. This number is set to grow to over […]
For many organisations, business survival in a COVID-19 world has relied on their ability to reduce costs quickly. One way to lower costs and ensure business continuity in the wake of future disasters is to outsource key activities to affordable offshore locations. Traditionally, Australian companies have outsourced key functions ranging from back-office administration and finance functions […]
Commonwealth and state and territory consumer affairs ministers have agreed to strengthen existing unfair contract term protections in the Australian Consumer Law, affording up to 99 per cent of businesses protection. “Evidence gathered through public consultation indicates that unfair terms remain prevalent in standard form contracts and there is uncertainty around the scope of the […]
The Federal Government has announced they will extend the $16.8 billion JobSeeker supplement payment, at a reduced rate, until the end of March 2021. JobSeeker will reduce from $815 a fortnight to $715 a fortnight from December. The Government added a coronavirus supplement onto the JobSeeker payment at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. That […]
Australian sustainable packaging startup Planet Protector Packaging has been one victim of the Chinese-Australian trade tensions, after their deal to provide the packaging of rock lobster exports was put on hold. Planet Protector Packaging (PPP) was established in 2016 in response to the global plastic waste crisis. Their product aims to eliminate polystyrene from supply […]
Steve and Nick Tidball don’t believe in following the rules. The British twin brothers ignored traditional business thinking when they co-founded Vollebak in 2016, by using science and technology to create clothing for the future. Steve and Nick were two of the biggest names in advertising and knew little about running a clothing line when […]
Tensions between China and Australia are steadily increasing as the Chinese government continue to stop Australian imports. This is said to be due to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. China has threatened to slap major tariffs on many Australian industries, possible resulting in a $6 billion blow […]
A $32 billion investment in renewable energy will be unlocked under the NSW Government’s new plan to cut down on the state’s emissions, reduce reliance on coal and create new jobs. The government said the plan would “cut red tape” to speed up approvals for transmission infrastructure in renewable energy zones in the Central west and New […]
The Tech 23 Deeptech Festival is hosting the AI Conclave on the 11 to 12 November, providing an opportunity for businesses to hear expert advice on the latest AI and machine learning trends. The AI Conclave is a free online event that helps businesses build customer-centric, scalable solutions in the cloud with Amazon’s machine learning […]
The RBA’s November Statement on Monetary Policy revealed that Australia has fared better than expected but the recovery is “expected to be bumpy and uneven” and “highly sensitive to further virus outbreaks.” Although spending is still below levels seen prior to the pandemic, the RBA predicts that Victoria’s emergence from lockdown and policy measures such […]
A record number of Australian companies are participating in the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), open from 5 to 10 November 2020. The annual event is hosted by China in Shanghai and is the world’s first import-themed trade fair. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 and trade tensions between Australia and China, more than […]
As consumers demand more sustainable and ethical business operations, companies can now join forces and fight climate change collaboratively through Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition. The Priceless Planet Coalition (PPC) unites merchants, banks, cities and consumers to plant 100 million trees by 2025. It is a platform where businesses can crystallise their sustainability goals and help […]
